Real Outrage Is "Obama Taking A 767 Campaign Plane To Visit Grandma" (VIDEO)

[CatWoman]

Republican strategist Brad Blakeman, responding to a question about how John McCain could square his opposition to wasteful spending with the RNC shelling out over $150,000 on clothes and accessories for Sarah Palin, said that the real outrage is Barack Obama "taking a 767 campaign plane to go visit Grandma." This is the same grandmother who raised Obama and who is very seriously ill. Blakeman continued, "Forget about the energy that is wasted, what about the hundreds of thousands of dollars to take a private trip when this guy should be humping his bags on a commercial plane or taking a smaller plane. Taking a 767 of campaign money from people who could least afford it is more of an outrage in my opinion." Anchor David Schuster, laughing, replied, "That is one of the most valiant tries I have ever seen in this entire debate about Sarah Palin's clothing allowance."



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/23/gop-strategist...

[wryter2000]

1. Yeah

He should take a Piper Cub instead.

in case anyone wonders.

[JBoy]

11. A Piper's not a jet. It's only a prop.

[cui bono]

20. I think that was the point.

A prop wouldn't make it.

[melody]

27. excellent photo illustration. good job n/t

[EOTE]

32. Bravo!! That was one of the cleverest play on words I've ever seen. NT

[Fuzz]

37. Applause and DUZY!!!

[wryter2000]

48. LOL!

I didn't get it for a minute.

[malaise]

50. DUzy

Excellent

[fifthoffive]

2. Tell me how a commercial flight would work

with the Secret Service entourage.

Then I'll be offended that Obama took (I assume) a campaign plane to Hawaii.

Edited to add: One should never pass up an opportunity to say, "Brad Blakeman is a tool."

[amitten]

3. Wow, he just set his own trap. Taking a plane to "visit Grandma"

is just one more of the reasons Americans find Obama so likeable.

[YOY]

4. If I could fly him there on my own personal airplane I would.

So fuck off Brad. His grandmother needs him. I'm sure the concept of caring for elders in any mannder other than a pandering one is beyond you.

[EFerrari]

5. Spitting, insane envy.

[demnan]

6. I can't decide which decription better fits this

assinine or insane.

[Luna_C_06]

54. Why not just use the first 3 letters of "assinine"?

That about covers it.

[gordianot]

7. At this point a commercial airliner would be a Secret Service nightmare.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

12. Exactly! This is a relief

I was really concerned to think he would be flying in a commercial plane

[smb]

42. That's Just Stupid

Imagine how many people's trips the Secret Service would have to screw up to provide anything approaching acceptable security if Obama actually tried to fly commercial.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

57. thanks

Actually I was very worried about him taking a private plane, then considered that a commercial plane might be more safe, but am embarrassed to say I didn't really think about the ramifications of that option. It was a stupid (lack of) thought, but did you have to point it out?

[RT Atlanta]

8. I want to throw out a ...

FUCK YOU to Brad Blakeman and the vile that he represents. Those fucking snakes are truly cold blooded and have no heart.

[indie_voter]

9. Ah, those republicans and their wonderful family values!! What a jerk. n/t

[Parche]

10. I Thought It Was A 757?

[bigtree]

13. I hope they play more of this comment

. . . and let voters see an example of what dicks these McCain folks have been.

[WarbirdForObama]

14. You know

Brad Blakeman is such a pathetic weasel.

Does anyone take his whining and sniveling serious?

[puerco-bellies]

15. Fail

I love the smell of desperation in the morning.. It smells like victory.

[rsmith6621]

16. He Is Flying a 767 Because....

.....It can hold the security and press detail....The 767 is a very fuel responsible aircraft....


NOW HERE IS THE OTHER REASON.....THE 767 Unlike his 757 Campaign Aircraft CAN DO THE TRIP FROM INDY to HONOLULU NON-STOP


I hate people who spend the night at the Holiday inn and think they are aviation experts....I work in aviation and plan,file flight plans,and determine fuel loads for commercial aircraft for a living.

[KayLaw]

35. Thank you.

I didn't know that but it's an excellent point.

[lapfog_1]

17. Again, the Secret Service would not allow this.

not to mention that an already leased 767 (including the pilots and staff) would NOT cost "hundreds of thousands" to fly to Hawaii. A few thousand, maybe $10K, possibly $15K (hours in flight are billed in addition to the base lease cost). Might even be $20K (I don't know what the per hour time is for a 767).

Of course, if Obama OWNED a jet plane (like the McCains do) one could make the argument that he should do his private travel in that... however, the Secret Service has already checked out his 767, possibly added counter measures to it (a mini Air Force One), and likely has a large detail already assigned to this candidate... THIS CANDIDATE, who has death threats uttered about him at every Repuke rally, I rather think the Secret Service would INSIST that he do all of his travels on his campaign plane... right up until he utters the oath of office next January.

[Richard D]

25. Here's other numbers

Flying a used 767 with a functional but not lavish VIP interior would cost an average of about $13,000 per flight-hour, compared with $7,850 for a Gulfstream V, according to Conklin & deDecker Aviation Information, an Orleans, Mass., research and consulting firm. That includes both variable costs such as fuel and fixed items such as crew salaries, maintenance and depreciation.

Bout halfway down the page: http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/hangar-talk/1441-goog...

On Edit: A donation campaign to fund Obama's trip? I'd gladly donate to help him cover the costs of seeing his grandmother.

[lapfog_1]

29. But if you already are leasing it...

what's the "per flight hour" charge over the lease cost?

My ex-father in law had a corporate Gulfstream IV assigned to him for his travel, it wasn't made available to any other staff or executives (unless he "freed" the plane for other duties). It was VIP and had a pilot, co-pilot, and two stewards (and the best food I've ever tasted on a plane). However, when he had family members fly with him, the company charged for their travel... something like $500 per hour per passenger. They said that was to cover the extra costs associated with the passengers. I was on the plane for 3 trips, all of them cross-country, so I think he paid something like $20,000 for me to fly on those trips with him (triple that since his wife and my ex-wife were also on the plane).

[ColbertWatcher]

43. "I'd gladly donate to help him cover the costs of seeing his grandmother."

I don't think you'd be alone!

[Dennis Donovan]

18. At this morning's repug conf call, he must've drawn the short straw...

"Okay... someone's GOTTA go with the '767 to Grandma' story. It's all we got..."

Recommended.

[Blue State Bandit]

19. I donated to Barack...

and he can use my money to see his Grandma.

All I ask is that he gives her my family's best wishes.

If there is a problem, I'm sure that enough contributors

will make the same proclaimation to cover the costs of

this justifiable family emergency.


So sit down Blakeman...

It's none of your business.

[Sabriel]

21. Better yet, Greyhound to Hawaii!!

Think of the money it would save "people who could least afford it."

Another extremely hypocritical wide stance from a GOPer.

[KayLaw]

34. Hah!

Sounds like something Sarah Palin would honestly suggest.

[wryter2000]

49. Maybe he could drive over that bridge to Hawaii

Didn't Caribou Barbie have that one built?

[cui bono]

22. "this guy should be humping his bags"

Why do Rupubs always have to bring their sexual fetishes into everything?

[cui bono]

23. Haha... I love how Schuster just starts laughing as soon as Blakeman starts spewing this nonsense.

[Dr Fate]

24. Visiting his dying grandma is on the same level as a high-end shopping spree? EPIC FAIL.

LOL! I hope they keep on pushing this meme, actually.

[madmom]

26. How does a family emergency equate to a make-over for those with horny high school mentality?

[melody]

28. I nearly expected one of those brain trust GOPhers to suggest he drive

This is seriously sad and desperate ... but then so is the whole campaign.

[Blue_Tires]

30. didn't Bush take AF1 to numberous fundraisers / campaign stops?

[Lex]

31. Ha! I predicted something like this 3 days ago:

I figured as much:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

.

[CatWoman]

33. LOL

The all seeing, all knowing Lex

[JBoy]

39. ROFL! Nobody had "taking a big airplane" in the pool.

Funny how many on that thread underestimated GOP scumminess.

[Lifetimedem]

36. unfortunately Obama does not have a rich wife

who has company jets at her disposal

[lame54]

38. Perfect response...

laugh in his face and move on

[Vinca]

40. How low class for the Republicans to go there.

It's not as if he's going on a gambling junket.

[Bluebear]

46. I expect nothing less from them anymore.

[smb]

41. WTF?

"this guy should be humping his bags on a commercial plane or taking a smaller plane"

Oh, yeah, I'm sure the Secret Service would be just fine with him flying commercial or taking a puddle-jumper halfway across the Pacific Ocean (if that were even physically possible).

Was this guy born an idiot, or did the Republican Party send him to a special school?

[tjwash]

44. Can you smell it?

The smell of fear from the RW pinhead express sinking deeper and deeper in to their own obsolescence? It's awesome. The scam is up and everyone knows it. They are left with no choice but to dive into the deep end of the sewer to protect themselves from further exposure.

These kind of baseless, least common denominator attacks from below have worked pretty well in the past for the repukes. However, after eight years of the Bush-Cheney crime family stealing everything that isn't bolted down, too many people are hurting too badly, to consider casting ballots in support of a winded old fart that promises nothing but more of the same.

I'm a liberal, and thus have gotten very used to my candidates almost never winning an election. Hell, I make it a point to never worship Democrats, but dammit...if Barack Obama and his extremely well run campaign can deliver us from these evil bastards, I am going to take my chances on him and the candidates on the ticket. Who am I to scoff at the hope he has inspired in millions of people? Hell; I'm old, and he looks like the best chance we have had since 1964 to cold-cock these soulless fuckers.

So....bring it on.

[SammyWinstonJack]

45. Wait, doesn't Gramps and Caribou Barbie fly on separate private jets to campaign stops?

[Blue Diadem]

47. WOW, the Republicans begrudge Obama going to see his very ill Grandmother?

Somehow that doesn't surprise me, I'm just surprised one had the guts to say it in a round about way. The fact that they would put down Obama's trip in whatever way they could and attempt to compare his means of getting to her bedside to their unnecessary frivolous overspending on luxurious CLOTHING for their less than qualified VP pick proves even more just how desperate they've become.

[lynettebro440]

51. Stupid fucks

its an 8 hour trip.

[krkaufman]

52. A fun discussion on the issue, from Countdown (Olbermann & Sam Seder)

(YouTube) Countdown: Olbermann discusses 'GOP Strategist Attack on Obama for Grandmother Visit' w/ AirAmerica's Sam Seder

[Pharlo]

53. Seems to me the real test to that argument would be

how many McCain supporters feel betrayed that their donations were wasted on a shopping spree in contrast to how many Obama supporters would have given donations above and beyond what they have in order to see to it that Obama could safely go visit his grandmother one last time.

[NNN0LHI]

55. Thats because all the Republicans I know wouldn't even go visit their dying grandmother

Unless they thought they were mentioned in the Will that is.

Don

[verges]

56. He expects him to fly on a commercial airline?

Get real.